Northwest Mediation Center

What Northwest Mediation Center does

Northwest Mediation Center (NMC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 and headquartered in Spokane, Washington, delivering mediation, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and restorative practice services across Eastern Washington and North Idaho (Spokane, Whitman, Lincoln, Stevens, Ferry, and Pend Oreille counties, plus North Idaho). The organization operates as one of 21 designated Dispute Resolution Centers (DRCs) authorized under Washington State RCW 7.75, with state-certified mediators adhering to Model Standards of Conduct, Washington Mediation Association standards, and Resolution Washington requirements.

NMC's service portfolio comprises general mediation for monetary, personal, family, and neighbor disputes (delivered at a sliding scale based on party income), a Housing Stability Program for eviction prevention and tenant-landlord conflict, the court-mandated 'Sharing the Children' 3-hour co-parenting seminar priced at $31 per person (delivered via Zoom), and an education vertical offering a 40-hour Basic Mediation Training, a 20-hour Advanced Mediation Training, and 'MockTales for Mediators' continuing education. Restorative practice circles (community building, harm repair, and classroom-based) round out the offering in partnership with schools and community organizations.

Revenue is generated through four streams: per-session sliding-scale mediation fees, fixed-price seminars, training tuition, and charitable donations through the Circle of Peace monthly giving program. The organization maintains affiliations with Resolution Washington, NAFCM, and the Washington Mediation Association, and is staffed by 7 paid employees supported by a trained volunteer mediator pipeline.

Name

Northwest Mediation Center

Legal name

Northwest Mediation Center

Website

https://nwmediationcenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Northwest Mediation Center is a Spokane-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing mediation, housing-stability, co-parenting seminars, and mediator training across Eastern Washington and North Idaho. It serves individuals, families, landlords/tenants, schools, and community organizations via sliding-scale and court-mandated services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Dispute Resolution / Community Mediation Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative Dispute Resolution & Restorative Justice Programs (BPAIAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK)

Keywords

• Community mediation services
• Alternative dispute resolution
• Mediator training programs
• Restorative justice circles
• Co-parenting education

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Mediation Services: Mediation sessions provided at sliding scale rates based on party income. Sessions typically last approximately two hours and are scheduled within days of request.
2. Sharing the Children Seminars: Court-mandated co-parenting seminar at $31 per person. Classes held online via Zoom with advance registration required.
3. Mediator Training Programs: Basic Mediation Training (40-hour), Advanced Mediation Training (20-hour), and MockTales for Mediators continuing education courses.
4. Donations and Charitable Support: Monthly donor program (Circle of Peace) and one-time donations support mediation services for those who cannot afford them.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Northwest Mediation Center provides community-based conflict resolution and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services, including general mediation for monetary, personal, and family disputes, specialized housing/tenant-landlord mediation to prevent evictions, and the court-mandated Sharing the Children co-parenting seminar. It also delivers paid mediator training (40-hour Basic, 20-hour Advanced, MockTales continuing education) and Restorative Practice/Justice circles for schools and community groups. Services are offered on a sliding scale regardless of ability to pay, with revenue supplemented by donations.

Product overview

Northwest Mediation Center offers a unified suite of dispute resolution and conflict management services centered around its core mediation offerings. The portfolio includes general mediation services for various disputes, specialized housing mediation to prevent evictions, and the court-mandated 'Sharing the Children' co-parenting seminar. Educational offerings comprise Basic and Advanced Mediation Training programs for aspiring mediators, plus 'MockTales for Mediators' for continuing education. The organization also provides volunteer mediator development and Restorative Practice/Justice programming. Services are delivered primarily in-person in Spokane, WA with virtual options for training classes via Zoom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sharing the Children: Court-mandated co-parenting seminar offered by NMC to help parents address children's needs during and after separation, divorce, or other family changes.

Products and services

• Mediation Services Facilitated dispute resolution in which a neutral mediator helps parties reach a mutually satisfactory agreement in an informal, voluntary, and confidential setting. Used for monetary, personal, family, and other disputes by individuals and families who want to avoid litigation.
• Housing Mediation / Housing Stability Program Specialized mediation services designed to reduce conflict between renters and housing providers, stabilize tenancies, and help prevent evictions in Eastern Washington. Delivered via on-site mediations at housing complexes by a dedicated Housing Stability Program Coordinator.
• Sharing the Children Co-Parenting Seminar Court-mandated 3-hour co-parenting seminar at $31 per person that helps parents address children's needs during and after separation, divorce, or other family changes. Delivered virtually via Zoom with advance registration required.
• Basic Mediation Training 40-hour foundational mediation training course with extensive practicum and rigorous evaluation, required for volunteer mediators and aligned with Washington Mediation Association certification standards.
• Advanced Mediation Training 20-hour advanced training for mediators of family matters, including additional practicum activities and family-specific mediation techniques.
• MockTales for Mediators Continuing education program for practicing mediators focused on topics such as Principled Negotiation, held monthly via Zoom.
• Restorative Practice / Restorative Justice Circles Community-centered approach to conflict resolution involving Community Building Circles, Harm Repair Circles, and Circles for class subjects, with roots in Indigenous cultures. Delivered in partnership with schools and community organizations throughout NMC's service counties.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of all respondents and 91% of all initiating parties who used mediation would use it again
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Resolution WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide association of Dispute Resolution Centers (DRCs). There are currently 21 DRCs operating in Washington State with coverage area of over 93% of residents. NMC is one of these designated centers authorized under RCW 7.75.
• National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAFCM's mission is to aggregate wisdom, amplify voice, and advance critical work of peacemakers in communities around the globe.
• Washington Mediation AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMA's mission is to advance the use of mediation as effective ADR, foster high standards of mediator conduct, training and certification, and be the voice of mediators in Washington State.
• Spokane Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMC works with Spokane Public Schools' Department of Family and Community Engagement on restorative practices and mediation program, creating trainings on addressing race through self-reflection and relationship building.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Mediate.com: A long-running ADR directory and resource platform connecting users to mediators and mediation information. Adjacent ecosystem participant that channels consumer demand for mediation services, including to nonprofit DRCs like NMC.
• National Association for Community Mediation: The national membership association for community mediation centers. NMC is a NAFCM member; the organization is a peer network rather than a competitor, providing industry standards, training resources, and visibility.

Broad incumbents

• JAMS: The largest private alternative dispute resolution provider in the U.S., offering mediation, arbitration, and ADR services to commercial and complex civil matters. JAMS represents the private-market incumbent whose commercial fee-for-service model contrasts with NMC's community-based, sliding-scale approach.
• National Arbitration and Mediation: A national private ADR firm providing mediation and arbitration services to corporate clients and law firms. Competes in the broader ADR space and illustrates the commercial, for-profit alternative to NMC's community mediation model.
• American Arbitration Association: A longstanding broad-scope ADR provider handling arbitration, mediation, and dispute resolution across commercial, labor, and consumer matters. Comparable in offering mediation and ADR services but operates as a national incumbent rather than a community-focused nonprofit.

Direct peers

• Resolution Seattle: King County's designated Washington State Dispute Resolution Center offering community mediation, training, and restorative practices under RCW 7.75. Direct peer given the same statutory authorization, nonprofit structure, and overlapping service portfolio.
• Whatcom County Dispute Resolution Center: Designated DRC serving Whatcom County, Washington as part of the Resolution Washington network. Direct peer offering similar community mediation and training services under the same statutory framework.
• Clark County Dispute Resolution Center: Southwest Washington's designated DRC providing community mediation and conflict resolution services under RCW 7.75. Direct peer with an analogous nonprofit, sliding-fee service model.
• Center for Resolution and Justice: Pierce County's designated Dispute Resolution Center providing community mediation, training, and restorative justice services under RCW 7.75. Direct peer operating the same model as NMC in an adjacent Washington region.
• Yakima County Dispute Resolution Center: Designated DRC serving Yakima County under Resolution Washington with comparable community mediation and training offerings. Direct peer reflecting the same statutory framework and service mix in a different Washington geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NWMediation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northwest-mediation-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/nwmediationcenter_drc

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northwest Mediation Center